Population

San Rafael

60,604

Berkeley

120,223

Median Income

San Rafael

$109,317

Berkeley

$108,558

Home Value

San Rafael

$1,246,200

Berkeley

$1,351,100

Rent

San Rafael

$2,346

Berkeley

$2,127

Crime Rate

San Rafael

5.59

Berkeley

6.40

Cost of Living

San Rafael

240.9

Berkeley

233.6

Avg Temp

San Rafael

N/A

Berkeley

N/A

Unemployment

San Rafael

5.8%

Berkeley

6.0%

Loading map…

How Similar Are San Rafael & Berkeley?

Berkeley is San Rafael's #2 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

San Rafael

60,604

vs

Berkeley

120,223

Different · 50% difference

Berkeley has a 50% larger population than San Rafael.

Violent Crime

San Rafael

5.59

vs

Berkeley

6.40

Different · 13% difference
🚨

Berkeley has a 13% higher violent crime than San Rafael.

Property Crime

🔒

San Rafael

24.56

vs

Berkeley

52.29

Different · 53% difference

Berkeley's property crime is significantly higher than San Rafael's — 53% difference.

Political Leaning

San Rafael

16.7%

vs

Berkeley

21.0%

Different · 21% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Berkeley has a stronger Democratic lean (21% difference).

Unemployment

💼

San Rafael

5.8%

vs

Berkeley

6.0%

Match · 4% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 4% difference.

Median Income

San Rafael

$109,317

vs

Berkeley

$108,558

Match · 1% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 1% difference.

Home Values

🏠

San Rafael

$1,246,200

vs

Berkeley

$1,351,100

Match · 8% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 8% difference.

Education

San Rafael

35.4%

vs

Berkeley

47.7%

Different · 26% difference
🎓

Berkeley has a 26% higher education than San Rafael.

Demographics

🌍

San Rafael

57.1%

vs

Berkeley

54.8%

Match · 4% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 4% difference.

Cost of Living

San Rafael

240.9

vs

Berkeley

233.6

Match · 3% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 3% difference.

5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. San Rafael and Berkeley share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

San Rafael

vsof 8

0

Berkeley

San Rafael leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Berkeley leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Berkeley scores 121.0 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 167.1 in San Rafael. Berkeley has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,385 vs $2,977 in San Rafael (25% lower). Berkeley has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,912 vs $3,604 in San Rafael (24% lower).

Overall Cost Index

San Rafael240.9
Berkeley233.6

Housing Index

San Rafael400.0
Berkeley400.0

Food Index

San Rafael133.6
Berkeley133.0

Transportation Index

San Rafael167.1
Berkeley121.0

Healthcare Index

San Rafael126.8
Berkeley126.4

Utilities Index

San Rafael180.1
Berkeley179.8

Living Wage (1 Adult)

San Rafael$105,980
Berkeley$102,784

Living Wage (Family of 4)

San Rafael$250,498
Berkeley$242,945

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

San Rafael$2,977
Berkeley$2,385

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

San Rafael$3,604
Berkeley$2,912

Housing Market — San Rafael leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Rafael has a vacancy rate of 4.0% compared to 10.3% in Berkeley. San Rafael has a single-family homes of 55.5% compared to 44.0% in Berkeley. San Rafael has a owner-occupied of 51.8% compared to 43.3% in Berkeley.

Median Home Value

San Rafael$1,246,200
Berkeley$1,351,100

Median Rent

San Rafael$2,346
Berkeley$2,127

Median Property Tax

San Rafael$10,001
Berkeley$10,001

Owner-Occupied

San Rafael51.8%
Berkeley43.3%

Vacancy Rate

San Rafael4.0%
Berkeley10.3%

Single-Family Homes

San Rafael55.5%
Berkeley44.0%

Jobs & Economy — San Rafael leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Berkeley: 66,168 vs San Rafael: 32,607 for labor force. San Rafael has a poverty rate of 10.9% compared to 16.8% in Berkeley. Berkeley has a work from home of 32.5% compared to 22.9% in San Rafael.

Median Household Income

San Rafael$109,317
Berkeley$108,558

Per Capita Income

San Rafael$67,609
Berkeley$66,936

Poverty Rate

San Rafael10.9%
Berkeley16.8%

Unemployment Rate

San Rafael5.8%
Berkeley6.0%

Labor Force

San Rafael32,607
Berkeley66,168

Mean Commute

San RafaelN/A
Berkeley20 min

Work from Home

San Rafael22.9%
Berkeley32.5%

Private Sector

San Rafael89.3%
Berkeley80.5%

Government Sector

San Rafael39.6%
Berkeley36.1%

Crime & Safety — San Rafael leads

Source: FBI UCR

San Rafael has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.02 compared to 0.06 in Berkeley. San Rafael has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 2.64 compared to 6.61 in Berkeley. San Rafael has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 24.56 compared to 52.29 in Berkeley.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael5.59
Berkeley6.40

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael24.56
Berkeley52.29

Murder Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael0.02
Berkeley0.06

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael1.49
Berkeley1.87

Assault Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael3.57
Berkeley4.00

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael2.64
Berkeley6.61

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

San Rafael17.70
Berkeley36.56

Violent Crime Clearance

San Rafael44.2%
Berkeley36.1%

Property Crime Clearance

San Rafael8.8%
Berkeley8.6%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Avg Annual High

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Avg Annual Low

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Sunny Days per Year

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Annual Rainfall

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Annual Snowfall

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Avg Humidity

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Schools & Education — Berkeley leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Berkeley has a bachelor's degree or higher of 47.7% compared to 35.4% in San Rafael. Berkeley has a high school diploma or higher of 51.9% compared to 45.3% in San Rafael.

Public Schools

San Rafael0
Berkeley0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

San RafaelN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Colleges & Universities

San Rafael0
Berkeley0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

San Rafael35.4%
Berkeley47.7%

High School Diploma or Higher

San Rafael45.3%
Berkeley51.9%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Berkeley has a population of 120,223, about 2x the size of San Rafael (60,604). Berkeley skews younger with a median age of 32.9 vs 43.5.

Population

San Rafael60,604
Berkeley120,223

Median Age

San Rafael44
Berkeley33

Avg Household Size

San Rafael2.5
Berkeley2.3

Married Population

San Rafael40.5%
Berkeley31.8%

Foreign Born

San Rafael28.1%
Berkeley21.3%

White

San Rafael57.1%
Berkeley54.8%

Black

San Rafael2.3%
Berkeley7.4%

Hispanic

San Rafael34.7%
Berkeley12.1%

Asian

San Rafael6.1%
Berkeley20.7%

San Rafael

Berkeley

Healthcare — San Rafael leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

San Rafael: 3.4 vs Berkeley: 3.3 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

San Rafael5
Berkeley5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

San Rafael3.4
Berkeley3.3

With Emergency Services

San Rafael5
Berkeley5

Transportation & Commute — Berkeley leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Rafael has a drive alone of 50.4% compared to 27.4% in Berkeley. Berkeley has a bicycle of 4.8% compared to 0.9% in San Rafael. Berkeley has a public transit of 15.8% compared to 6.8% in San Rafael.

Mean Commute Time

San RafaelN/A
Berkeley20 min

Drive Alone

San Rafael50.4%
Berkeley27.4%

Public Transit

San Rafael6.8%
Berkeley15.8%

Bicycle

San Rafael0.9%
Berkeley4.8%

Work from Home

San Rafael22.9%
Berkeley32.5%

Airports

San Rafael0
Berkeley0

Cities Similar to San Rafael, CA

Compare San Rafael against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

Explore These Cities

Compare Different Cities